ANGEL RATINGS FOR HELL BOUND
23 OCTOBER 2003. SOURCE: MEDIAWEEK

As expected, Fox stayed on the winning map with game four of the World Series (Marlins 4, Yankees 2) at a 13.8/20 in primetime (and a 15.9/25 from 8.15pm to 12.30am). Comparatively, last night's game in its entirety was up 18 percent from the year ago match-up between San Francisco and Anaheim.

Proof positive there is room for more than one successful series per time period was NBC warhorse LAW & ORDER at a 14.2/21 at 10pm - 33 percent ahead of its also second place lead-in THE WEST WING (10.7/15). Although ABC's 9pm competing THE BACHELOR scored a third place 9.2/13 in the overnights, the still buzz-worthy reality series will finish second in the hour among adults 18-49 once the nationals are released. Compared to lead-in IT'S ALL RELATIVE (6.6/10), THE BACHELOR was up by 39 percent.

Earlier in the evening, and following baseball on Fox, ABC's compatible combination of MY WIFE AND KIDS (8.1/12) and the aforementioned IT'S ALL RELATIVE ranked second in the 8pm hour followed by NBC's ED and The WB's SMALLVILLE (6.3/10 each), CBS's 60 MINUTES II (5.6/8) and a repeat of UPN's ENTERPRISE (2.9/5). Compared to the year ago night, SMALLVILLE was up a hefty 54 percent from former occupant DAWSON'S CREEK (4.1/6 on Oct. 23, 2002) while ENTERPRISE dipped 15 percent from another repeat telecast (3.4/5).

At 9pm, and in continued good news for CBS, the Emmy worthy KING OF QUEENS continues to score with a 7.5/10 - 32 percent above the last half hour of lead-in 60 MINUTES II (5.7/8). Combined with hanging in there lead-out BECKER (6.8/9), the CBS comedies were, on average, 25 percent above THE AMAZING RACE 3 on the year ago night (5.7/8). AMAZING RACE fans, take note: your favourite reality series in indeed coming back.

On The WB, ANGEL (4.4/6) continues to squash UPN's JAKE 2.0 (2.1/3) with a 110 percent advantage last night. Even so, retention of just 70 percent for ANGEL out of SMALLVILLE (versus 72 percent for JAKE 2.0 out of ENTERPRISE) is concerning.

At 10pm, and against baseball and LAW & ORDER, the leftovers were slim for ABC's KAREN SISCO (5.4/8) and CBS's THE BROTHERHOOD OF POLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE (5.2/8). BACK TO THE TOP